About a year ago, I had just started my journey into extreme couponing. At that time, I had not even heard of the show or the movement. Hard to believe, but true. We didn’t have cable television, so it wasn’t even on my radar. All I knew was that my grocery budget wasn’t working out to the best of its ability, and I needed to do something quick, so I started to use coupons.
I studied every loss leader ad that came out and tried to match up the best deals I could find, then off to the store I would go. This would take HOURS! After about my 4th or 5th trip to the store, making purchases and walking out without paying any thing, people began to ask me if I were an Extreme Couponer, or if I watched the show. I was so excited to find out that I wasn’t alone, and that there were resources out there for me to go to in order to find the best deals. That’s when things went into overdrive for me.
Growing my stockpile came pretty quick and easy. I was able to acquire about a years worth of body wash, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, toothbrushes, air fresheners, laundry soap and so much more, in a very short period of time. As you can imagine, I became addicted to the awesome feeling of getting things for free or close to free as possible.
Over the period of a few weeks, I outgrew my pantry. That’s when I decided to clean out my personal closet and started my Coupon Zone. It is very well organized, and very well stocked. I was so proud of my accomplishment, that when my Mom came to visit, I jumped at the chance to show her my new stockpile of goods.
She walked in, and I waited with baited breath for the “good job honey” response I had been anticipating all day. But, what I got instead of an atta-girl, I got, “Honey, are you a hoarder?”. She had a very concerned look on her face, and was dead serious. My excitement fell through the floor. Gee thanks Mom. Anyways, I quickly recovered from that little stab wound and began to explain to her the difference between hoarding and stockpiling with coupons. I let her know that hoarders collect tons of JUNK that has no real use and they live beyond their means to do so, and that stockpiling with coupons was a way to ensure that I received the rock bottom lowest prices on items that we use daily.
It didn’t take long, before she was convinced that I wasn’t crazy.
Have you had any experiences like mine?
Has anyone accused you of being a hoarder? If so, I want to hear about it. Please share your story, and how you were able to overcome that awful label.
Thank you for taking the time to visit The Katy Coupon Zone, blogged from Katy, TX a.k.a…God’s Country!
Happy couponing and…stay in the Zone!!
The Katy Coupon Zone 